Overnight Sensation continues my obsession with the Brooklyn Bruisers! In this story, we get the "overnight sensation" Jason Castro as our hero. And his lady love? None other than the commissioner's daughter, Heidi Pepper! She is also a Bruisers' intern, hoping to take over Becca's job now that Becca is marrying the owner.
Jason is having an off start to his season. He isn't living up to his previous season and struggling in his new position as right wing. One area Jason doesn't struggle? With the ladies. He nearly has a 1 night stand with Heidi, not knowing she was the commissioner's daughter. Heidi has decided she is tired of doing whatever her father wants. She doesn't want to go back to Bryn Mawr and finish school. She doesn't want to date the boring, father approved guy who is even more boring in bed. She decides to stand up to her father and take risks. I admired Heidi a lot. Being able to say "This isn't the path I want my life on" is really difficult. When you have overbearing parents who hold the purse strings, it's even harder. But, Heidi doesn't shy away from working hard to keep her independence. She also works hard at trying to get Castro to sleep with her! Sometimes its downright comical and other times my heart hurt for her because you can feel her emotions. Heidi was a character that made me want to be a better person. She was able to look at everything in life as an opportunity and I find that incredibly admirable!
While Castro initially comes off as a typical manwhore jock, you learn pretty quickly that isn't the whole story. Don't get me wrong-he is a love 'em and leave 'em guy for sure, but he is also driven, dedicated to his sport and his teammates, and really sweet with his family. He carries guilt about a past tragedy and you see how it shapes him in subtle ways. I wanted him to man up and be with Heidi despite her father, but I understood his predicament (hello, its basically the CEO's daughter)! His past really moulds him in some tragic ways and that was heartbreaking.
In the 200 + books I read each year, Sarina Bowen's are always some of my favorites and Overnight Sensation delivered. Bowen writes dynamic characters that you bond with quickly and creates a book 'family' you never want to leave. I hope she writes this series forever because I will never tire of it!
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: no
- Trope: boss's daughter, hockey
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series
- Cliffhanger: no
- HEA: yes but I wish there was an epilogue!
Max by Sawyer Bennett, The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan, The Good Luck Charm by Helena Hunting...then you will probably like Overnight Sensation!
See full review on The Book Disciple